Grotjuj



Sept.'..18 1923.

.1. E. MOORE enouun CLEARING AND AERATING MACHINE Filed June '7. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 18, 1923.

J. E. MOORE GROUND CLEARING AND AERATING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 2 flbtmm;

Sept. 18, 1923.

J. E. MOORE GROUND CLEARING AND AERATING MACHINE Filed June '7. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 8 H i M NM :1 MN RN WEN FMN Q Q Q an 9 w 8 MN 1 e QM. N i m N\ Patented Sept. 18, 1923.

. UNITED STATES,

JAMES ELWOOD MOORE,

or SARASOTA, FLORIDA.

GROUND CLEARING AEBATIII IVIACHINE.

Application filed June 7,

7 '0 all w ham it may some a:

Be it known that I, Jiuins ELwoon Moomc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sarasota, in the county of Manateeand State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Ground Clean mg and Aerating Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ground clearing and aerating machines,and more specifically to a machine for cutting and. COl.l(."lI-il}g roots, stumps, palmettos, corn-stalks, cottonstalks and other plant growths.

One object of this invention is to provide a thoroughly practical and eliicient machine for collecting and dumping plants and roots while aerating the land being cleared of the roots, etc.

A further object is to provide an easily operated means for vertically adjusting the front part of the machine so as to regulate the depth atzwhich the hOi'lZOlli'fll and ver tical cutters operate.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement of cutting knives which clear themselves of roots that may be only part out off.

A further object is to provide an improved heater that cannot become clogged, and which is exceedingly durable and easily repaired when its arms become worn or broken.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out or implied in the following; dc tails of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my land clear ing and aerating machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, parts being broken away for. the purpose of d sclosure ther parts and forlack of suilic'ient space, the engine or motor and part of the driving shaft being omitted.

Fig. 3 is av transverse vertical sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail illustrating ii-.1? construction of the front or mainbeuter :i' aerator.

Fig. 5. is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, the section being; taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of one of the staves or strips which hold the beater-arms firmly in position and preventcl 'ngoi the roots in the beater.

Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview illUStltl-tilig;

1921. Serial No. 475,715.

the mounting of one of the horizontal knives or cutters. i

Referring to thcse-drawings'in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views, the invention consists in the construction and arrangment or combina tion of parts whichwill now be fully de scribed asfollows:

Broadly considered, the machine coinprises a truck or running gear, one or more horizontal or substantially horizontal cutters, one or more substantially vertical cutters, one or more rotary boaters, a. tract: which co-operates with the heater or heaters to elevate and convey the roots rearward, a collecting receptacle to receive and dump the roots, a motor for driving the vertical cutter and heater, and controlling devices such as will be described hereafter.

The truck comp ises a main frame or chassis ii, a pair of rear wheels or casters 2. a pair of front wheels 3, a crank-axle bearings 5 inwhich the axle l isrotatable, and leaf springs 6 with their connections 7.

At the frontend of the tran'ie 1, an axle 8 is mounted in bearings 9 and carries the vertical cutter or cutters 10 which ina be either serrated, as illustrated, or may be of any other appro u'iate form. ll loreover, these cutters may be either rotary or otherwise movable with relation to the frame 1 and are secured to the shaft 8 and rotatable therewith. This shaft is provided with a CllVGD wheel or pulley ll which connects with a driving shaft 12 through the medium of a driving: pulley 13 and a belt let or other endless transmission memliicr.

The shaft 12 directly connected to a motor 15, of any appropriate kind. The term motor is to be construed in its broadest definition, and is here conventionally shown as an internal combustion engine, its controlling handles being;- indicated at 16, 17 and 18. respectively, these handles being conveniently positioned with respect to a drivers seat 19.

A. handwheel 20 is also positioned conveniently with respect to the drivers seat, and its jointed shaft 21 carries a worm 22 which meshes with a worm wheel A?) on the crank-axle l so that rotar Y motion ma be Ill) mediate portion of the crank-axle 4 has a rotary motion imparted thereto, the interiediate portion is moved forward or rearward with respect to its end portions, which carry the wheels 2, thereby raising the front portion of the frame 1 together with the cutters, heaters and track. This vertical adjustment of the cutters regulates the depth to which they extend into the ground, without changing the relation of the cutter with respect to the beater or heaters and track.

The horizontal cutters are illustrated at 2e and 25, the latter constituting a forwardly converging pair, while the cutters or blades 24 constitute a forwardly diverging pair. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the cutting edge of each'blade 24 extends diagonally in rear of the corresponding blade and is spaced therefrom, as indicated at 26, so that plants or roots will not become clogged between the cutters 24: and 25, in the event that such plants or roots are not entirely severed by the cutters, but-.will pass through the spaces or passages 26, and in many instances, the severing of such plants or roots will be completed by the upper and rearwardly inclined track-bars 27 and beater-arms 28. The cutters or blades 24 are removably secured by rivets, bolts or securing means, to horizontal portions 29 of angular plates 29 whose upright portions are riveted or otherwise secured to the side bars 1 of the frame 1, as indicated in Fig. 1. The intermediate cutters are removably secured to plates 80 which are also secured to the bars 1, having their outer edges extending between these bars and the flanged upper edges of the plates 29 and being secured by the same rivets which secure the latter to the bars 1. The inner portions of the plates 30 extend downward and outward or horizontally to provide seats for the blades or cutters 25, as indicated at 30*; and the intermediate portions of these plates are curved upward and outward from the portions 30 as indicated at 30, while their outer edge portions extend horizontally between the beams 1 and the plates 29, as previously explained, and as best shown in Fig. 3.

In the present arrangement of parts, two of the saws or cutters 10 are arranged adjacent to and extending forward of the front ends of the blades 24:, while a third or intermediate saw or cutter 10 is disposed adjacent to the front ends of the cutters 25 and extend forwardly of these cutters. Therefore, the rotary cutters 10 sever the substantially horizontal roots before the cutters 24 and 25 sever the adjacent vertical or upright roots. The advantage of this arrangement arises from the fact that the blades 2s and 25 not only cut the upright roots, but also lift the earth containing the horizontal roots, and this lifting of the earth is made easier on account of the horizontal roots being first severed from the plants which stand out of the path being traveled by this machine.

By referring to'Fig. 1, it will be seen that the lower cutting edges of the cutters 24:, 25 and 10 are always substantially at the same depth of earth when in operation, the cutting edges of the horizontal cutters extend approximately to the vertical center of the cutters 10; and this is true because the horizontal cutters are rigid with the frame 1 and immovable with respect to the axial centers of the cutters 10. \Vhile the cutters are here illustrated as having their lower surfaces exactly horizontal and plane, they will, in practice, have their front edges slightly inclined of the earth when the front end of the frame 1 is raised above its lowest posit-ion indicated in the drawings.

For the purpose of receiving the roots which have been severed by the cutters, a pivoted platform or grating 31 is carried by the rear portion of the frame 1, a pair of depending bearings 32 being provided with pivots of the platform 31. A support ing bar 33 has its ends secured to the bearings 32, and the rear ends of the track bars 27 are secured to this bar 33, while the front ends of these bars 2? are secured to the horizontal portions 29 and 30 of the plates which carry the cutters 24 and 25. There fore, the bearings and bars 27 brace the plates which carry the horizontal blades.

For the purpose of dumping the roots when a sufiicient quantity has been gathered on the platform 31, a lever is connected to this platform, through the medium of links 35, and this lever 34 is provided with a latch 36 which engages with a quadrant 37 for holding the platform in its substan tially horizontal position. The lever 3-1 is convenient to the drivers seat 19, and by swinging this lever rearward. the rear end of the platform 31. is lowered so that the roots slide from this platform on to the ground, forming a pile which can be burned or conveniently loaded for removal from the ground being cleared.

\eferring again to the heaters, it will be seen that the one which includes the arms 28 is driven by the shaft 12 through the medium of sprocket wheels 38 and 39 and a chain 40, the sprocket 39 leing mounted on a shaft ll which has an intermediate noncylindrical portion on which. the arms 28 are secured against rotation with respect to the shaft. This beater is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 (FAQ 5, and it will be seen tiiat each arm 28 comprises two parts 28 and 28 respectively, the latter being formed integrally with hub which is separate from the hubsof the other arms 28. Therefore, if any arm 28 becomes broken or worn out, it can be replaced by a similar arm by simply withdrawing it from the shaft 41 and then passing this shaft through the hub of the similar arm 28. However, if it is only the part 28 which needs replacing, it is only necessary to remove the bolts which secure this part to the part 28' and attach the new part 28 by means ofv these bolts. 'To prevent thread-like roots from becoming entangled with the bolts of the arms28 or becon'iing wedged between the arms 28, and also to brace these arms, I provide a pair of disks 42 and an annular series of slats or staves 43, the latter being provided with notches or openings 44 through which the arms 28 extend, the ends of the slats 43 be ing removably secured to the disks 42 by means of bolts 45 which extend through the apertured ends of these slats and through apertured flanges of the disks 42. The in Wardly extending bosses of the disks 43 abut against the hubs of the outer arm 28 and assist the staves 43 in preventing longitudinal movement of the arms 28.

A rear beater and conveyor element 46 includes a shaft 47 which is journalcd in the frame 1. and provided with av sprocket 48. A chain 49 connects the sprocket 48 and a sprocket 50 on the shaft 12, therefore, this shaft 12 drivesthe boaters and the vertical cutters in unison. However, a clutch 51 is provided for throwing the front beater out of gear with the driving shaft 12, and a similar clutch (not shown) may be provided for throwing the rear beater and the vertical cutter out of gear with the motor.v

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 the arms of the beater member 46 are staggered relative to the arms of the beater member 28 and are of such length to overlap the ends of the latter arms. Inasmuch as both of the beater members revolve in the same direction, due to their chain connect'ions with the shaft 12, the said overlapping portions of the arms will be traveling in opposite directions with the resultthat they will coact to further out orsever the roots of the plants. The arms of the beater member 46 will fi'irthern'iore act to disengage any roots which may have lodged upon the arms of the beater 28, thereby serving as a cleaner for the last mentioned beater.

A hood or guard 52 is provided for the vertical cutters 10, and a hood or guard provided for the front and rear heaters.

The plates 29 and 30 are apertnred at 29 and 30 for permitting the crank-aXle4 to pass through these plates and to have vertical movement relative thereto. By this means, the wheels 3 can pass over stumps, sticks, stones and other obstacles by simply deflecting the springs 6, without raising the front portion of the frame, so that the blades or cutters remain extended into the ground while the'wheels pass over the obstruction. On the other hand, when the machine passes over a depression in the ground, 6 permit the wheels to enter the depression and continue to support or partially support the front part of the machine while it passes over such deprcssicn.

Anyap propriate means may be employed for drawing or propelling the machine, and

when is propelled while the motorl5 is operating, the vertical and horizontal cutters sever the roots which are in the path of the lnachine. These roots and the'adiacent contiguous earth pass over the blades 24 and 25' and onto the track 27. As soon as they pass rearward sufficiently far, the front beater strikes them and frees the roots from the earth which clings to them. This earth falls between the bars of the track 27, and the roots are propelled rearward and upward on the bars 27 by the beater arms 28. The beater 46 now engages these roots and throws them onto the gratingBL'at the same time discharging any of the earth which was clinging to them after they left the beater arms 28. When the platform or grab ing 2-31 has been filled, the driver can operate the lever 34 for dumping the roots on the ground.

The present invention may be employed in clearing land of cotton, corn, and other similar stalks and roots of comparatively small diameter, but it is more particularly adapted for operations on larger plants, especially pine and palmetto roots .and stumps. By the use of the positively driven saw-toothe vertical cutters 10, the angularly disposed converging rigidly constructed horizontal cutters 24 and 25, the grate-like apron or track-bars 27, and the peculiarly constructed heaters 28 and 46, the formerhaving its arms staggered and entering the spaces between said bars 27, and coacting with said bars, it is possible to effectively and quickly clear land of pine and palmetto stumps and roots as large as six, eight, and even ten inches in diameter.

Actual experiments have shown that machines employing smooth edged vertical cutters, even when forced into the ground under weights of c s much as two tons, are wholly ineffective for severing roots of such dimensions, the said cutters merely rising and riding over such roots. Furthermore, the machines which have been heretofore proposed, due to the construction of their boaters and aprons, such as 27, have been incapable of handling such heavy roots and stumps, and removing the earth therefrom.

On the other hand, the present invention provides a machine having elements which effectively sever and remove the earth from palmetto pine roots of dimensions above mentioned; the heaters being so designed and constructed as to permit large pieces of severed roots to be moved when in transverse, longitudinal, or diagonal posilOO 1,4es,ees

tions. The arms of the heaters further so engage these large roots as to effectively remove there m substantially all earth adhering thereto, which earth is forced by the said arms through the spaces between the bars 27, depositing it loosely on the surface of the ground over which the ma chine is travelling. It thus results that the ground is not only cleared of the stumps and roots, but also aerated, as will be readily apparent.

It is not intended to limit this in ion to the exact details of construction and ar angement illustrated, but changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted to travel over the ground; a substantially horizontal root cutter mounted on said frame for travel below the surface of the ground, and comprising a plurality of pairs of converging stationary blades, a portion of one blade of each pair extending behind its companion blade in spaced relation thereto; a substantially vertical cutter mounted on said frame in position to penetrate the ground and co operate with said horizontal cutter for severing and disengaging plant roots from the ground; a motor on said frame; and means operatively connecting said motor with said vertical cutter for imparting a cutting movement to the latter.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted to travel over the ground; a substantially horizontal root cutter mounted on said frame for travel below the surface of the ground, and comprising a plurality of pairs of converging stationary blades a portion of one blade of each pair :ztending behind its companion blade; a substantially vertical rotary cutter mounted on said frame in a position to penetrate the ground and cooperate with said horizontal cutter for severing and dis engaging plant roots from the ground; a plurality of spaced stationary bars extending from the rear edge ofthe horizontal cut ter for receiving and supporting the roots and earth from said cutter; a rotary beater provided with substantially radial spaced arms adapted to pass between and coact with said stationary spaced bars to engage the roots and beat the earth therefrom; a motor on said frame; and means opcratively connecting said motor with said heater and said vertical cutter for imparting rotary movementthereto.

In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted to travel over the ground; a substantially horizontal root cutter mounted thereon for travel bclow the surface of the ground; a substantially vertical root cutter mounted on said CI Lit} of, the horizontal cutter for r ceiving and supporting tne roots and earth from said cutters; a rotary beater provided with sub stantiallyradial spaced arms adapted to pass between and coact with said station ary spaced bars to engage the roots and beat the earth therefrom; a second rotary beater provided with spaced radial arms staggered relatively to the arms of said first and verlapping portions of the 2, whereby they m y coact with the arms of said first beater to sever and disengage the roots from the latter; and means for rotating said heaters.

in a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted to travel the ground; arsubstantially horizontal root cutter mounted on said frame for travel ielow the surtace of the ground and comer lSlDg' plurality of pairs of convergat 01 ary blades, a portion of one blade i ea h pai extending behind its companion blade; a substantially vertical rotary cutter mounted on said frame in position to peneate the ground and cooperate with said 'izontal cutter for severing and disengagn plant roots from the ground; a plurality paced stationary bars extending from ie rear edge of the horizontal cutter for receiving and supporting the roots and earth from said cutters; a rotary beater provided with substantially radial'spaced arms adapted to pass between and coact with said stationary spaced bars to engage the roots and beat the cart therefrom; a second ro tary beater provided with radial arms staggered relative to the arms of said first beater and ovedapping portions of the same whereby they may coact with the arms of said first heater to further sever and disengage said roots from said first beater; a motor on said frame; and connections between said motor and said rotary cutter and said heaters for rotating the latter. 7 5. A device for removing relatively large roots and the like from the ground coinprising a frame; substantially horizontal and vertical cutter members adapted to enter the ground and'to sever said large roots; and means for removing adhering earth from said sev r d portions, comprising a plurality of spaced bars over which said roots and earth may travel and boaters provided with staggered arms adapted to engage said roots and to'pass between said spaced bars, to force the removed earth therethrough.

6. A device for removing relatively large roots and the like from the ground, comprising a frame; positively driven rotary toothed cutters carried by said frame adapted to enter the ground and to sever said large roots in a substantially vertical plane; converging fixed cutter members also carried by said frame adapted to sever said roots in a substantially horizontal plane; an apron member comprising a plurality of fixed spaced bars, adapted to receive said roots from said cutters; and a positively driven rotary beater provided with substantially rigid radial staggered arms, ai'lapted to engage said roots and to remove the adhering earth therefrom, said arms being also adapted to pass oetween said spaced bars and to force said removed earth there through.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES ELWOOD MOORE. 

